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Category Archives: baking

A Poem and Cake

The poet, Brian Bilston has very kindly given me permission to share his clever poem, “At The Intersection” which amused me greatly. He introduces it thus: “The mathematician John Venn was born on this day in 1834. To commemorate the occasion, here’s a poem in the form of a Venn diagram.” I hope it makes you chuckle too.

I made a Lemon, Cinnamon and Blueberry Cake today which is very tasty but all the blueberries have sunk to the bottom, again. Perhaps that’s what blueberries do! I’m guessing the volunteers tomorrow won’t mind.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 4, 2025 in baking, poetry, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Tags: Brian Bilston, John Venn, mathematics

Chocolate Pudding and Crocosmia

02 Aug

After seeing the physio this afternoon and my lovely Mr S being signed off as he is doing so well, I decided we needed a celebratory pudding and as we had some pears that needed eating up, I made Squidgy Chocolate Pear Pudding and it was, indeed, scrumptious.

It’s Crocosmia season and the hedges along the lanes are full of the bright orange variety, Common Montbretia. We have that all along the top of our Cornish hedge up the side of the garden and in the beds we have a beautiful golden one and a scarlet one.

Common Montbretia

Lucifer

Gerbe d’Or

Like many of you, I’m sure, I find that the events in the world right now can be overwhelming and in writing my blog, I try to focus on the beautiful things all around us. Today, a post by Suzy whom I follow, spoke of the situation in Gaza and I thought you may (or may not) like to read it too. Here it is if you’d like to.

8 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 2, 2025 in baking, Cornwall, environment, flowers, garden, nature, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Tags: Squidgy Chocolate Pear Pudding

News, Raindrops and Cake

17 Jul

Mr S is out of surgery and we are told it all went well. Thank you for the good wishes so many of you lovely readers sent for him. He is very touched by your care.

Raindrops yesterday

Lemon and chocolate chip cake made yesterday for a Corporate Day at Roots today.

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 17, 2025 in baking, environment, garden, nature, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Roses, Pie and A Quotation

28 Jun

On our walk back up from the allotment where we picked another pile of raspberries this afternoon, we passed a garden full of roses, all with that wonderful evocative rosy scent. Did any of you try to make perfume with rose petals as a kid as I did? It never worked but that didn’t stop me trying year after year!

I made a pie for dinner tonight and it was as delicious as it looks.

I read these words by Arundhati Roy today and felt them worth sharing with you, Dear Readers:

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”

~Arundhati Roy, ‘The Cost of Living’

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 28, 2025 in allotment, baking, Cornwall, environment, nature, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Tags: Arundhati Roy, Chicken and Mushroom Pie, The Cost of Living

Cake, Marigolds and Cucumbers

17 Jun

I made another of the best ever chocolate cakes for the birthday of one of the volunteer team at Community Roots. (I’ll put the recipe up soon)

The marigolds in one of the poly tunnels are flourishing.

Just look atthe cucumbers!

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 17, 2025 in baking, community, Cornwall, environment, growing, nature, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Stillness, Cake and Fox Party

12 Jun

There was an air of stillness around the Penryn River this morning as we gathered for the Suitcase Singers rehearsal, the mist dampening all sound. I love the reflections of the masts.

I made a Chocolate Cake for the party we were to go to this afternoon. It was a disaster! The cake almost fell apart as I tried to cut it in half to fill with ganache so I left it in two together halves with no filling. Then, when I poured over the ganache, a section fell off! I decorated it with Violas and Cornflower petals and took it next door anyway. We decided it couldn’t be sliced so invited the guests to scoop a spoonful. It went down very well with several people asking for the recipe, one of whom was a delightful fourteen year old who loves baking as I do. !

The party was to ‘wet the fox’s head’ prior to her being disassembled to go first for galvanising and then to be taken to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Each piece of wood will be taken off, numbered and then reassembled in situ in the Lost Gardens. Lots of neighbours and friends who have been watching the development of the sculpture with awe were there. We raised a glass to the makers.

What a remarkable job they are doing!

She has eyes though they are not fixed yet

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 12, 2025 in art, baking, Celebration, community, Cornwall, friendship, Happiness, Penryn, Postaday2025, sculpture

Damsel Fly and Cakes

06 Jun

Shopping in Truro this morning we were surprised to see a damselfly on the windowsill of Waterstones bookshop, nowhere near water. Checking on various id sites we think it’s a male banded demoiselle, such a pretty creature. Do click on the photo to see the beautiful detail and feel free to give us a definitive id.

I’ve made a Coffee Cake for tomorrow’s town market and a mini one for us.

22cms

14cms on a saucer!

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 6, 2025 in baking, Cornwall, nature, Postaday2025

New Work, Sparrow and Cake

19 May

We decided our wall garden needed tidying so the first move was to empty some of it. We’re putting in some summer colour for now and will plant bulbs in the Autumn. I’ll show you it filled tomorrow, I hope.

A Sparrow came to the window feeder and wasn’t disturbed by my taking photos.

I made a Lemon Curd Drizzle Cake for the volunteers at Roots tomorrow.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on May 19, 2025 in baking, Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday2025

Fox, Cake and Snacks

06 May

More wood has been added to the sculpture next door. The Fox’s brush is looking good…..

I read a new recipe last weekend for Brazilian Carrot Cake and decided to make one for Community Roots for their special day next Saturday, The Opening of the Big Shed. I left a section un-iced for those few who would like a slice without chocolate ganache topping. It’s in the freezer, ready for the weekend.